I've listened to Not Available in its entirety over 500 times, Meet The Residents a little over 600. This is a pic of my iTunes folder for the 2005 CD version of NA: http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/802/residents.png (I have about another 100 listens for the 2011 extended version.)
Now, I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Meet The Residents, in its original mono mix, is a masterpiece. It deserves no less acclaim than Not Available, and in my opinion, is even more rewarding in the intensity of musical emotion.
Scaruffi was, more than anyone or anything else, my go-to guy for music suggestions. I was a fan and champion of Captain Beefheart, Pere Ubu, and The Residents long before I had heard of him, and I first stumbled upon his website (specifically, his best rock album list) through a Google search of information on musical links between the three masters of avant-garde rock. When I saw that albums by all of them were in his top 30, I knew I found a critic I could trust on finding music to my tastes.
Anyways, at that time (a couple years ago), I had never heard Not Available. When I saw that was given a 9/10 compared to my then-current-favorite Eskimo's 8/10, I knew I had to hear it. I bought a copy off eBay, listened to it, and it clicked on the first listen. There was no denying that it was a masterpiece. Trusting Scaruffi's judgement, I decided to focus on only listening to albums that he had rated a 9 or higher, and left Meet The Residents, having scored a measly 8/10, to wait. It would not be until I went through every 8.5/10 and higher album that I would revisit The Residents.
Six months and dozens of albums later, I gave it a listen. My initial impression? 8/10. It was interesting, but not as "epic" as Not Available. However, as I always do with albums I enjoy, I gave it a few more listens, to make sure I had squeezed every bit of emotion out of it I could. Needless to say, those few listens turned into the 600+ times I have heard it to this day. In fact, as I am typing this, "N-ER-GEE (Crisis Blues)" is playing in the background. When I took the snapshot of my Not Available plays, it was also playing, but between then and now the album, on repeat, has come full circle.
During the same period of time I racked up all those plays, I did the same for Not Available, wondering if there was something I missed that would give me insight as to why Scaruffi rated that a complete point higher than Meet The Residents. Alas, here is an approximation of my ratings as the play counts increased:
There has been only one other album that displayed such a trend for me after repeated listenings, and that would be Trout Mask Replica.
Anyways, I wrote this up as a response to not seeing MTR on your list. I encourage you to give it a few listens if you have never heard it, and if you have, give it a few more. I'm sure you will enjoy the experience!
Great list!
My personal version:
Side One:
1. Tomorrow Never Knows
2. I am the Walrus
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
4. Glass Onion
5. Happiness is a Warm Gun
6. Helter Skelter
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Side Two:
1. Abbey Road Medley
2. A Day in the Life
Give Jimmy Bell's Still In Town by 15-60-75 (The Numbers Band) a listen. It's a combination of rock, jazz, and blues with a definite Beefheart and Soft Machine influence. It's David Thomas' (of Pere Ubu) favorite album of all time.
I think it is just a matter of differing taste. One more question: did you listen to the original mono version of MTR or the edited stereo version? The difference between the way they sound is so drastic that I'd only give the stereo version an 8/10, while I'll stick with my 9 on the mono.
I noticed that the "restored" version of Metropolis on your list is 124 minutes. I wonder, have you seen the 147-minute 2010 restoration yet? Because there is no comparison between the two; the new restoration (which can be found on DVD/Blu-Ray under the title "The Complete Metropolis") may be the greatest work of cinema I have ever experienced. I cannot believe some of the entire scenes that were cut, and I do mean "entire scenes", not just extended clips of previously-noncut ones. Believe me, if the 124-minute cut is a 9.5 for you, the 147-minute one will be at least a 9.7.
I actually considered Not Available, Terminal Tower, The Modern Dance, and Trout Mask Replica to be in my top ten favorite albums years before I had heard of Scaruffi. I only found his site when I did a Google search one day of ' "greatest albums" "pere ubu" ' to see if there was any record list out there that included my favorite band at the time (and still are).
There is no debate on whether art can be found WITHIN video games. However, the question I think Ebert is addressing is "is the GAME aspect art", that is, where there is a goal to be achieved. I would have to agree with him, as much as I love video games, that it isn't.
After repeated listenings, I have to agree with you on placement of The Art of Walking over Dub and Picnic. It really is their best album after The Modern Dance (well, unless you count Terminal Tower, which is all their early singles collected).
Already listened to it about three times now :) I like to make at least five before I rate.
Will listen to those next week. Thanks for the suggestions!
I've listened to Not Available in its entirety over 500 times, Meet The Residents a little over 600. This is a pic of my iTunes folder for the 2005 CD version of NA: http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/802/residents.png (I have about another 100 listens for the 2011 extended version.)
Now, I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Meet The Residents, in its original mono mix, is a masterpiece. It deserves no less acclaim than Not Available, and in my opinion, is even more rewarding in the intensity of musical emotion.
Scaruffi was, more than anyone or anything else, my go-to guy for music suggestions. I was a fan and champion of Captain Beefheart, Pere Ubu, and The Residents long before I had heard of him, and I first stumbled upon his website (specifically, his best rock album list) through a Google search of information on musical links between the three masters of avant-garde rock. When I saw that albums by all of them were in his top 30, I knew I found a critic I could trust on finding music to my tastes.
Anyways, at that time (a couple years ago), I had never heard Not Available. When I saw that was given a 9/10 compared to my then-current-favorite Eskimo's 8/10, I knew I had to hear it. I bought a copy off eBay, listened to it, and it clicked on the first listen. There was no denying that it was a masterpiece. Trusting Scaruffi's judgement, I decided to focus on only listening to albums that he had rated a 9 or higher, and left Meet The Residents, having scored a measly 8/10, to wait. It would not be until I went through every 8.5/10 and higher album that I would revisit The Residents.
Six months and dozens of albums later, I gave it a listen. My initial impression? 8/10. It was interesting, but not as "epic" as Not Available. However, as I always do with albums I enjoy, I gave it a few more listens, to make sure I had squeezed every bit of emotion out of it I could. Needless to say, those few listens turned into the 600+ times I have heard it to this day. In fact, as I am typing this, "N-ER-GEE (Crisis Blues)" is playing in the background. When I took the snapshot of my Not Available plays, it was also playing, but between then and now the album, on repeat, has come full circle.
During the same period of time I racked up all those plays, I did the same for Not Available, wondering if there was something I missed that would give me insight as to why Scaruffi rated that a complete point higher than Meet The Residents. Alas, here is an approximation of my ratings as the play counts increased:
# of plays: MTR - NA
1: 8/10 - 9/10
100: 8.5/10 - 9/10
250: 9/10 - 9/10
500: 9.2/10 - 9/10
There has been only one other album that displayed such a trend for me after repeated listenings, and that would be Trout Mask Replica.
Anyways, I wrote this up as a response to not seeing MTR on your list. I encourage you to give it a few listens if you have never heard it, and if you have, give it a few more. I'm sure you will enjoy the experience!
Great list!
My personal version:
Side One:
1. Tomorrow Never Knows
2. I am the Walrus
3. Strawberry Fields Forever
4. Glass Onion
5. Happiness is a Warm Gun
6. Helter Skelter
7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Side Two:
1. Abbey Road Medley
2. A Day in the Life
Give Jimmy Bell's Still In Town by 15-60-75 (The Numbers Band) a listen. It's a combination of rock, jazz, and blues with a definite Beefheart and Soft Machine influence. It's David Thomas' (of Pere Ubu) favorite album of all time.
I think it is just a matter of differing taste. One more question: did you listen to the original mono version of MTR or the edited stereo version? The difference between the way they sound is so drastic that I'd only give the stereo version an 8/10, while I'll stick with my 9 on the mono.
Any suggestions are welcome!
Currently listening (and re-listening) to:
Mahler - Symphony No. 9
Wagner - Tristan und Isolde
If you like the Book of the Hanging Gardens, give Pierrot Lunaire a listen as well.
I check this list every day for movie suggestions. Keep up the great work!
Give "Meet the Residents" a listen. It has surpassed Not Available as The Residents' masterpiece for me, though both are 9/10s IMO.
Have you heard Not Available or Meet the Residents? Both are easy 9/10s for me.
I noticed that the "restored" version of Metropolis on your list is 124 minutes. I wonder, have you seen the 147-minute 2010 restoration yet? Because there is no comparison between the two; the new restoration (which can be found on DVD/Blu-Ray under the title "The Complete Metropolis") may be the greatest work of cinema I have ever experienced. I cannot believe some of the entire scenes that were cut, and I do mean "entire scenes", not just extended clips of previously-noncut ones. Believe me, if the 124-minute cut is a 9.5 for you, the 147-minute one will be at least a 9.7.
I actually considered Not Available, Terminal Tower, The Modern Dance, and Trout Mask Replica to be in my top ten favorite albums years before I had heard of Scaruffi. I only found his site when I did a Google search one day of ' "greatest albums" "pere ubu" ' to see if there was any record list out there that included my favorite band at the time (and still are).
There is no debate on whether art can be found WITHIN video games. However, the question I think Ebert is addressing is "is the GAME aspect art", that is, where there is a goal to be achieved. I would have to agree with him, as much as I love video games, that it isn't.
After repeated listenings, I have to agree with you on placement of The Art of Walking over Dub and Picnic. It really is their best album after The Modern Dance (well, unless you count Terminal Tower, which is all their early singles collected).